When you’ve had as many ideas as Dracksil Forg, then surely there’s nothing – and no-one – you won’t anticipate…

The winner of this year’s Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip Opportunity tale is a 12th Doctor story that doesn’t actually feature the Time Lord himself for quite a bit of the running time. Jacob Dudman has plenty to do voicing the various different characters who all come to Dracksil Forg for an idea to help with their plans for the future before the Doctor finally appears – but a very familiar Scottish burr makes it presence known eventually. Ben Tedds has penned an unusual tale, taking advantage of the Short Trips format to spin worlds for the listener without necessarily tying all of it to the Doctor.

I suspect, from the Doctor’s attitude towards pudding brains, that this is earlier in this incarnation than post-River, and you do understand why the Time Lord can sometimes lose patience with what he regards as lesser species. He’s still willing to give people a chance – but it’s up to them if they take it!

Verdict: Some nice ideas and characterisation in here makes me look forward to Ben Tedds’ next excursion into the Who-niverse. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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